Father Of The Bride (DVD)

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The first time I saw the 1991 remake of "Father of the Bride" with Steve Martin, I had my doubts going in. Memories of the original, 1950, Vincente Minnelli movie with Spencer Tracy as the flustered parent of bride-to-be Elizabeth Taylor still lingered in my mind. It had been a delightful little romp, and remakes are not always up to the task of equalling their predecessors. But Martin handles the newer film comfortably and makes it almost as charming and funny as the first one. Despite some a few maudlin moments, it made me smile.

The story recounts not only the difficulties of giving up a daughter but the comic frustrations of stage managing a huge, elaborate, and very expensive wedding ceremony and reception. I dunno. I rather suspect these things are women's doings. I've never known a man who wouldn't have rather kept it quick, quiet, and simple. And given the high rate of divorce in this country, it's a wonder more parents have not outright disowned their kids after all the time and expense involved.

My own wedding was a small family affair at my wife's sister's house. That was thirty-four years ago, and it doesn't seem to have done us any harm. My ideal wedding, however, was my old college roommate's. It was conducted in a San Francisco judge's chambers at City Hall; I was the best man/witness. The three of us went in, the judge said a few words, we signed some papers, and we left. Five minutes tops. Then we walked down the street and had dinner at a local restaurant, the couple left on their honeymoon, and I went home.

But for most folks, the traditional church wedding and reception is the required fashion, and the bride's father is expected to foot the bill. Martin plays the old Tracy part, that of the discombobulated dad, George Banks. Tracy seemed like more like a dad to me and Martin more like a comedian, but that's no fault of Martin, who gives it a good try. His best moment comes when his twenty-two year old daughter in the movie announces by surprise that she's getting married, and the Martin appears awestruck and horrified simultaneously. The look is priceless.

Martin is surrounded by a capable cast headed by Diane Keaton as the mother, Nina Banks; Kimberly Williams as the bride-to-be, Annie Banks; George Newbern as the groom, Bryan MacKenzie; Kieran Culkin as Annie's younger brother, Matty; and Eugene Levy in a cameo as a band singer. But it's really Steve Martin's show, and the only one who comes close to upstaging him is Martin Short as Franck Eggelhoffer, an over-the-top "wedding coordinator." Short's almost impenetrable accent (Russian? French? German? Shortvian?) is a take on Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau, and in the few scenes he's in, Short steals every one.

As in the earlier movie version, the father narrates the story in flashback, going back six months to when it all began with the wedding announcement. But even more than before, we get an idyllic, prototypical, picture-perfect fifties sitcom family, complete with a father who owns his own shoe manufacturing business ("Side Kicks"); a two-story white colonial house with white picket fence; a small, friendly, hometown, suburban community; and a young couple who are supremely beautiful, bright, well-educated, well-employed people. It's "Leave It To Ozzie and Donna Know Best" country.

When George learns of his daughter's impending marriage, he's disconsolate. He can't believe his little girl is going away forever. He feels like one of his own discontinued shoes. But once he gets over it and decides he's got to foot the bill for the affair, things only get worse. The wedding reception is going to cost a fortune, and he's even expected to pay for the groom's relatives coming over from Denmark. But, heck, your daughter only gets married once, right? Yeah, well....